Telescoping ironing board

ABSTRACT

THE INVENTION COMPRISES AN EXTENSIBLE IRONING BOARD IN WHICH A PLURALITY OF SECTIONS ARE TELESCOPICALLY STORED ONE WITHIN THE OTHER. LATCHED MEANS IS PROVIDED AT THE SIDE OF A FIXED SECTION OF THE TELESCOPICALLY EXTENSIBLE BOARD TO PERMIT THE EXPANSION OF THE SELECTIONS AND TO HOLD THE EXPANDED SECTION IN RIGID RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FIXED SECTION. LEGS ARE PROVIDED TO ELEVATE THE TELESCOPICALLY EXPANDED PORTIONS TO PERMIT A CONTINUITY OF FLAT SURFACE OVER THE VARIOUS EXTENDED SECTIONS OF THE IRONING BOARD TOP.

Oct. 5, 1971 CMRE 3,609,892

TELESCOPING IRONING BOARD Filed Aug. 22, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENTOR.

ARLENE L. CAIRE BY M,M, yu13wl ATTORNEYS Oct. 5, 1971 CAME 3,609,892

TELESGOPING IRONING BOARD Filed Aug. 22, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I m W2!!! IH J F/ 6 [mp m lm ir.

7O l l l l nu n L llllllllllllll" INVENTOR. ARLENE L. CAIRE ATTORNEYS 061. 5, 1971 L C R 3,609,89

TELESCOPING IRONING BOARD Filed Aug. 22, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ARLENE L. CAIRE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,6l)9,892 TELESCOPING IRONING BOARD Arlene L. Caire, 305 E. 40th St, New York, N.Y. 10016 Filed Aug. 22, 1969, Ser. No. 852,258 Int. Cl. D06f 81/00, 81/02 US. Cl. 38-138 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention comprises an extensible ironing board in which a plurality of sections are telescopically stored one within the other. Latched means is provided at the side of a fixed section of the telescopically extensible board to permit the expansion of the sections and to hold the expanded section in rigid relationship with the fixed section. Legs are provided to elevate the telescopically expanded portions to permit a continuity of flat surface over the various extended sections of the ironing board top.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an expandable and collapsible ironing board and more particularly to a means for extending the top of an ironing board and providing a flat ironing surface.

Heretofore, it has been known in the prior art to provide varying attempts at collapsible ironing boards. Certainly, the need for such device is known particularly to those who do any travelling of any sort. Further, the need is indispensable, for the collapsible ironing board, if the users live in cramped quarters and require foldaway or collapsible type conveniences.

Numerous attempts have been made at collapsible type ironing boards; however, none appears to provide a flat surfaced ironing board which is sturdily supported thereunder by latching mechanisms so that possibility of collapse or insufficient support is minimized.

It is the general object of the present invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing difficulties in prior art devices by providing an inexpensive and easily manufactured collapsible ironing board.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a telescopically extensible ironing surface which is extendable into a fiat ironing surface.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a latching means for a telescopically extended ironing board which will hold the extended section or sections of such ironing board in a fixed relative position to the fixed portions of said ironing board.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an alternative latching means which will hold the expanded section or sections of the telescopically extensible ironing board in fixed relationship to the fixed section of the fiat ironing surface.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a means for extending at least one section from a fixed section for creating a fiat ironing surface.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a means of supporting the expanded ironing board.

DESCRIPTION Oil? THE INVENTION The above objects of the present invention and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds are achieved by providing an extensible and telescopically collapsible ironing board comprising a first section, a second section telescopically movable within said first section, a holding means disposed on said first section and adapted to mate with said second section,

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means for moving said second section into a plane level with said first section thereby providing a flat ironing surface, and means for supporting said expandable ironing board above a fixed surface.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES For a better understanding of the present invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate the several objects throughout the respective views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown in its expanded form,

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the present invention shown in its expanded form,

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the partially extended sections,

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the ironing board top in its expanded condition,

FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of the leg pivots at the bottom of the first section,

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of an ironing board in its collapsed condition,

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the ironing board shown in its extended condition,

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the alternative embodiment showing the ironing board partially extended.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the latching means, in a locked condition, in the alternative embodiment,

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the latching means of the alternative embodiment shown in its open condition,

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a further alternative embodiment,

I6. 12 is a perspective view of the position of the sections, of the further alternative embodiment,

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of the means for holding the sections together in the further alternative embodiment,

FIG. 14 is a partial cross-section view of another locking arrangement, and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the means of collapsing the sections of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the expandable ironing board shown in FIG. 1, the ironing board may be referred to by the. reference numeral 10.

The ironing board 10 may be provided with a generally rectangular first section 12 into which a second movable section 14 may be telescopically engaged. The telescopically expandable second section 14 may take the shape of a generally flat trapezoid, which shape is generally well known in the use of ironing boards.

The first section 12 is provided with a bottom surface 16 to which there is connected at base member 18. As shown in FIG. 5, attached to said base member 18 are a pair of pivots 20 in spaced relationship one to the other, each of which is adapted to have connected thereto a leg 22. Each pivot 20 is positioned to fold the leg 22 downward and at an angle ofi the longitudinal axis of the second section 12. In this manner when the legs 22 are folded down and outwardly from the bottom surface 16 of the first section 12 they will be slightly spread apart thereby forming a wider support base area for the fully extended ironing board 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the distance between the pivoted ends of the legs 22 which are connected to the pivots 20 is greater at the lower ends of the legs 22 when they have been moved to the lowered position.

As shown in FIG. 1, each leg 22 is constructed in two sections. The first section 24 is of a hollow tubular construction and is adapted to receive the second hollow tubular section 26 which is smaller in diameter so that the second hollow tubular section 26 may be retracted into the interior of the first hollow tubular section 24. In this manner, the legs 22 are extensible to a height approximately double the length of the first tubular member 24. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that any convenient means may be employed for locking the second tubular member 26 in its extended position from the first tubular member 24.

It may be seen that the side walls 28 which extend downwardly from the flat top surface 30 of the first section 12 are deep enough to accommodate the folded legs 22 and also to receive the telescopically insertable second section 14 which slides within the underneath portion 32 of the first section 12 defined by the downwardly extending side walls 28 (see FIG. 6). It should be noted that the widest point of the collapsible or retractable second section 14 is slightly more narrow than the distance between the downwardly extending side walls 28 of the fixed first section 12. Further, the side walls 28 of the first section 12 are bent under in a generally U-shape configuration to provide tracks 34 by which the second section 14 may be guided to the internal lower portion 32 of the first section 12, and which provides a means of holding the second section 14 within the first section 12.

The side walls 28 of the first section 12 may be provided with a pair of interiorly projecting pegs or protuberances 36 which are positioned below the upper surface 38 of the first section 12. The pegs 36 are in longitudinal alignment one with the other as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and extend inwardly toward the lower portion 32 of the first section 12 from the interior of the side walls 28 on both sides of the first section 12. The pegs 36 are fixedly mounted in this position and are adapted to support a latching means 38 provided on the rear end portion 40* of the second section 14. It should be noted that the pegs 36 are positioned internally of the opening 42 of the first section a short distance from the opening 42.

As previously indicated, the rear end section 40 of the section 14 is provided with latching means 38 which is comprised of a slotted section 44 which extends rearwardly of the side walls 46 of the second section 14. A slot 48 is defined in the slotted section 44 by a first rearwardly extending element 50, of relatively short length and a second rearwardly extending section 52 longer in dimension than the first rearwardly extending section 50. The slot 48 is formed between the first and second sections 50, 52 and is adapted to receive the pegs 36 therein when the second section 14 is fixed in its extended position forming the completed ironing board 10.

In order to extend the second section 14 from the first section 12, the second section 14 is pulled outwardly from the first section 12 to a point where the rear edge 54 of the first rearwardly extending element 50 may be slid over the peg 36 and thereafter the pegs 36 may be engaged within the slot 4 8, as shown in FIG. 4. With this arrangement, the second section 14 may be firmly held within the first section 12 by the structural configuration of the distance between the pegs 36 which prevents the second section 14 from pivoting within the latching arrangement 38 and thereby falling from the first section 12. Note, the upper surface 60 of the second section is provided with a step 62 which meets the edge of the first section to form a fiat surface over the extent of the ironing board This step 62 is dimensionally fixed from the rearmost edge of the first rearwardly extending element 50 in the latching arrangement 38 to provide an exact match of the step 62 with the opening 42 of the first section 12. Structurally, there is provided an elongated normal size ironing surface of the continuing fiat nature.

As a result of this construction of the second section 14, and with the relationship of the thinner construction of the second section 14, a foldable front leg 64 may be connected to the bottom surface 66 of the second section 14 which when folded to a retracted position will fit within the underside area of the second section 14 and will not interfere with the extensibility or retractability of the second section 14 within the first section 12 (see FIG. 6).

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 7l0, other means of fastening the second section 14 within the first section 12' may be provided. The alternative construction comprises the second section 14' having a stepped rear portion 68 which is provided with a hole 70 in its side walls 46' permitting the engagement of a spring actuated peg 72 mounted on the side Walls 28 of the first section 12'. The spring actuated peg 72 is adapted to fit through a hole 74 in the side walls 28' of the first section 12' and when the same peg 72 is in alignment with the hole 70 in the side wall 46' of the second section 14' the peg 72 will engage the hole 70 and lock the second section 14' in position.

Structurally, when the second section 14' is collapsed within the first section 12, as shown partially in FIG. 8, the rear stepped portion 68 is approximately the same height as the internal distance between the track 34', onto which the second section 14' slides and the bottom surface 16' of the top surface 30' of the first section 12'. When the second section 14' is pulled from the first section 12', the spring actuated peg 72 will engage the hole 70 in the side wall 46' of the second section 14 when the hole 70 is in alignment with the hole 74 thereby providing a point of connection between the first and second sections. structurally, since the height of the rear end portion 68 of the second section 14' and its rearmost edge is the same distance as the opening between the track 34' and the bottom surface of the upper wall, there will be no point of pivot thereby permitting the complete support of the second section 14' within the first section 12'. The bottom edge of the rearmost portion 68 will be held upon the track 34' thereby providing a rigid support for the rear end portion 68 of the second section 14. Again, since the peg 72 engages the hole 70 in the side wall 46 of the second section 14, the second section 14' will not be able to pivot about the peg 72 since the rear end portion 68 is wedged between the track 34' and the bottom surface 16' of the top surface 30' of the first section 12'.

Unlike the preferred embodiment, the structural arrangement of the alternative embodiment does not require the pulling out from the first section 12' to the second section 14 and then a reinsertion thereof. This procedure is eliminated by immediately aligning the hole 70 in the side wall 46' of the second section 14 with the spring actuated peg 72 and hole 74 of the first section 12'.

A further alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11-15, discloses a slidably extensible ironing board in which the second section 14 extends from the first section 12" and is removed therefrom to a position longitudinally connectable to the rear end 76 of the first section 12" at the opposite end from which the extensible second section 14" has been removed. In this instance, a pair of swingable legs 78, telescopically constructed, and of a U-shaped form, are connected to the side Walls 28" of the first section 12" and extend, in their spread condition around the periphery of the first section 12" as shown in FIG. 12. The second section 14 is then insertable into said first section to form a complete ironing surface. As shown in FIG. 12, the second section 14 is provided with a pair of protrusions 80 which are adapted to matingly engage a pair of slots 82 in the closed rear end 76 of the first section 12". As shown in FIG. 13, the protrusions 80 are engageable in the slots 82 to hold the connected first and second sections together with their ends abutting thereby forming a flat continuous section. A magnet 83 may be provided internally of the underportion 32" of the first section 12" to magnetically engage the abutting rear wall 85 of the second section 14 to firmly hold the sections together.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the legs 78 which support the first section are exteriorly connected to the first section 12 and are adapted to fold under the first section 12" when the second section 14" is connected, thereby forming a support for the first section 12". It should be noted that the second section 14 is provided with a telescopically extensible leg 64" which is foldable downwardly to act as a support for that section in the same manner as disclosed in the preferred embodiment. The first section 12 is provided with a boss 84 at its open end 34" which abuts the legs 78 when they are in their downward position thereby preventing over extension of the legs 78 in the rearward direction, as shown in FIG. 11.

The frctional engagement of the abutting ends with the magnetic hold of the first and second sections permit, in combination with the mating arrangement of the protuberances 8i and slots 82, the support of the center of the combined sections so that relatively heavy pressure may be applied when the ironing board is in use.

A further alternative means of connection of the first and second sections may be seen in FIG. 14 in which side mounted locking means 86 are provided to hold the first and second sections together. In this manner, the

second and first sections are supported at their abutting surfaces along the side walls of the sections thereby adding further structural rigidity to the joined first and second sections.

As shown in FIG. 15, the second section 14" extends from the first section and, after removal, is moved to the rear end wall 76 of the first section and connected in the manner shown in FIG. 14 or 13.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the objects of the present invention have been achieved by providing an extensible ironing board which is telescopically collapsible and in its extended condition provides a flat ironing surface supported by a plurality of le s.

While in accordance with the patent statutesa preferred and alternative embodiment have been shown and described in detail, it should be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.

I claim:

1. An extensible ironing board comprising a first section having downwardly extending side walls, said downwardly extending side walls defining an underneath portion of said first section, a second section telescopically movable within said underneath portion, a plurality of protuberances extending inwardly from each of said side walls in the front of said first section, said second section having a latching means disposed thereon adapted to engage said protuberances for holding said first and second sections in a locked extended position forming a continuously flat ironing surface, a pair of legs connected to said first section, and a foldable front leg connected to said second section and adapted to cooperate with said legs connected to said first section for supporting the ironing board in its fully extended position.

2. The extensible ironing board according to claim I wherein a step is provided at the rear end of said second section and is adapted to mate with the front edge of said first section to provide a complete fiat surface at the junction of said first and second sections.

3. The extensible ironing board according to claim 2 wherein said second section is adapted to slide into the underneath portion of said first section when said ironing board is in its collapsed condition.

4. The extensible ironing board according to claim 3 wherein said legs connectable to said first section are foldable upwardly into said underneath portion of said first section.

5. The extensible ironing board according to claim 4 wherein said foldable front leg is foldable under said second section and is adapted to be stored thereunder when said second section is slid into said first section.

6. The extensible ironing board according to claim 5 wherein said latching means comprises a first rearwardly extending member and a second rearwardly extending member disposed beneath said first rearwardly extending member, a slot disposed between said first and second rearwardly extending members, said slot adapted to engage said protuberances for locking said second section in its extended position from said first section.

7. An extensible ironing board comprising a first section having downwardly extending side walls, said downwardly extending side walls defining an underneath portion of said first section, a second section telescopically movable within said underneath portion of said first section, said second section being provided with downwardly extending side walls each having a hole therein, said downwardly extending side walls of said first section each being provided with a hole therein, a pair of tracks in said first section formed by said side walls at the lower extremities thereof, a spring actuated peg insertable through said hole in side walls of said first section and adapted to engage the hole in the side walls of said second section for rigidly locking said second section in an extended position from said first section, said locking of said first and second sections in an extended position forming a continuously flat ironing surface, a pair of legs connected to said first section, and a foldable front leg connected to said second section and adapted to cooperate with said legs connected to said first section for supporting the ironing board in its fully extended position.

8. The extensible ironing board according to claim 7 wherein said second section is provided with a rearwardly extending portion, said rearwardly extending portion being substantially the same width as said downwardly extending side walls and engageable with said tracks on the lower edges thereof to prevent the pivoting of said second section from said first section.

9. The extensible ironing board according to claim 8 wherein said legs mounted on said first section are telescopically extendable.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1955 Grissette 38138 4/1957 Lacey 38-138 U.'S. Cl. X.R. 108-71 

